IMPACT OF LAWN-CARE FIRM CHARACTERISTICS ON PESTICIDE EXPENDITURES

Using three types of pesticides is related to selected lawn-care firm characteristics. The data were collected through a survey of 95 random ly selected firms, which yielded 68 usable questionnaires. From that n umber, 50 firms specializing in lawn-care services other than mowing w ere selected. Statistical relationships were formulated using herbicid e, insecticide, and fungicide expenditures as dependent variables. In estimated relationships, the impact of variables significantly differe nt from zero (i.e., firm's gross revenue, number of commercial custome rs serviced, annual labor cost, and size of the treated commercial lan dscape) was in the same direction but differed in magnitude. In genera l, commercial account additions and firm size (measured by gross reven ue) increased pesticide expenditures. Pesticide expenditures decreased , however, as the labor cost and the size of the treated commercial la ndscape increased. The firm's perception of pesticide regulations had no impact in the specified relationships.